Kristin Hoffman

Softened

Appears in
Baker Bettie's Better Baking Book
Baker Bettie's Better Baking Book

By Kristin Hoffman

Published 2022

  • About
  • Definition: When a recipe calls for butter to be “softened,” the butter should be at a cool room temperature, somewhere between 68–72°F/20–22°C.
  • When It’s Used: Softened butter is used when it will be creamed with sugar in a recipe. The butter needs to be softened so that it will hold a web of air after being beaten with the sugar.
  • Tips for Softening Butter: Butter can easily be softened by being left to sit out at room temperature for 30–45 minutes. Butter will soften more quickly if it is cut up into small pieces.